# I pit people who don't train their big dogs. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 7, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075 "2012-02-07T15:21:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/21 "2012-02-07T19:15:38Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > Sorry to hear that. What was wrong with your dog’s eye? He scratched himself but apparently older Boxers have problems healing eye injuries. We eventually had to sew his eye shut so it would heal ☹ He currently holds the most expensive pet title in our house but I can see Kaia trying to figure out a way to take it back. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/22 "2012-02-07T21:16:14Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I pit people who don’t train their dogs…no matter what size. Absolutely. An untrained dog is unpleasant to be around regardless of size. IME, though, it’s the little ones who are most apt to be untrained. Most folks will train a big dog to some extent just to save themselves from being buffeted around and clawed up if nothing else. But a lot of people don’t see the need with little because they’re so ittle wittle and cyoot, they can’t hurt you. When it comes to going to a pet having home, I’ll visit the pit bull before the chihuahua in heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/23 "2012-02-07T22:00:35Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I pit people who don’t train their dogs…no matter what size. Absolutely. It’s the basic responsibility of a pet owner. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/24 "2012-02-08T01:08:21Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I pit people who don’t train their dogs…no matter what size. Exactly! Tho since it seems that we can’t get the average person to be responsible for much of anything these days, I guess it’s no surprise to hear about so many unmannerly dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/25 "2012-02-08T01:55:38Z")
One of my cat will sometimes jump up on people dog-style. Get on his hind legs and put his front paws on somebody’s knee as they are standing. Of course he _thinks_ he is a dog and considers my neighbor’s pitbull to be the best thing ever ( probably his role model ). I’d try to train him out of it, but: A.) It probably wouldn’t work and… B. ) …it’s cute and nobody complains. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/26 "2012-02-08T01:58:14Z")
Hate this. “Oh, ha ha, Rex is a little high-spirited, just knee him in the jaw and he’ll stop”. Uh, no thanks. I’ll be glad to knee YOU in the jaw, but you’ll have to abuse your own dog. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/27 "2012-02-08T02:05:30Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > One of my cat will sometimes jump up on people dog-style. Get on his hind legs and put his front paws on somebody’s knee as they are standing. Of course he _thinks_ he is a dog and considers my neighbor’s pitbull to be the best thing ever ( probably his role model ). I’d try to train him out of it, but: > > A.) It probably wouldn’t work and… > > B. ) …it’s cute and nobody complains. 😉 One of my cats sneaked up behind my lodger as he was peeing (lodger not the cat) and nipped him on the calf, a gentle nip, but still, bad cat! ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/28 "2012-02-08T02:14:15Z")
Last year when we had our Coabode fiasco, where we shared a house with this other lady and her son, she had two dogs. One was a Shih-Tzu that she already had, and one was a young yellow lab mix that she got in between us agreeing to move in and when we actually moved in. She kept the Shih-Tzu in diapers because she couldn’t be bothered to housetrain it (should’ve been our first clue of what kind of person she was) and she never did do anything to train the yellow lab in anything at all. When we first moved in, my son and I would go to the library and check out dvds on dog training for her, but she’d never look at them. She also never walked either of the dogs, so my son and I just started walking them every day because we felt sorry for them. It’s like she just got these dogs for her entertainment and comfort, but didn’t want any responsibility for them. I found that very hard to understand. 😕 By the time we left four months later, the back yard was full of huge holes, the sliding glass doors were all scratched up, and the carpet on her side of the house was destroyed. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/29 "2012-02-08T13:44:51Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Just heading it off at the pass. It’ll get there, trust me. Hate is a terrible thing. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/30 "2012-02-08T14:15:09Z")
My parents hate training dogs, so they get theirs used. In their experience I’ve learned that the perfect pre-trained big dog is a retired racing greyhound. They don’t jump, they don’t bite, they don’t lick, they don’t even bark. They have been trained since birth to require permission to do _anything_; it’s kind of like adopting a four-legged Marine. If I had space for an animal that big (and they are BIG), I would definitely get one of those. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/31 "2012-02-08T14:22:32Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Hate is a terrible thing. So is _Beverly Hill Housewives_, what’s your point? I’m not hating anything; just making an observation. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/32 "2012-02-08T15:02:17Z")
> [@Cosmic Relief](#): > > Hate this. “Oh, ha ha, Rex is a little high-spirited, just knee him in the jaw and he’ll stop”. Uh, no thanks. I’ll be glad to knee YOU in the jaw, but you’ll have to abuse your own dog. This is just silly. Yes - it’s unfortunate that that owner did not manage to completely train his dog to not jump up, and it’s not your responsibility to do it for him. But… 1. That’s not abuse. Dogs are physical creatures that communicate a great deal through contact. 2. If given the options of either a) interacting with the dog in a way to communicate to it to stop jumping on you or b) letting the dog continue to jump on you, why the hell would you choose option b? Yes, it’d be delightful if the owner would put a stop to it - but if he’s not, why the fuck aren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/33 "2012-02-08T16:57:49Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > 1. That’s not abuse. Dogs are physical creatures that communicate a great deal through contact. Contact is one thing, but if you don’t think kneeing the animal in the face is abuse, that’s just rationalizing. > [@](#): > > 1. If given the options of either a) interacting with the dog in a way to communicate to it to stop jumping on you or b) letting the dog continue to jump on you, why the hell would you choose option b? Yes, it’d be delightful if the owner would put a stop to it - but if he’s not, why the fuck aren’t you? Oh you can be sure that if the dog jumped on a child or someone frail I would absolutely kill it with my bare hands, no qualms there. But if someone’s going to tell me it’s my job to train their dog, that person is the one who will be receiving some “training”. I mean, just a little instructive contact. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/34 "2012-02-08T18:49:35Z")
> [@Cosmic Relief](#): > > Contact is one thing, but if you don’t think kneeing the animal in the face is abuse, that’s just rationalizing. If you think the dog owner wants you to completely knee the dog in the face, I’d suggest you have absolutely no ability to discern hyperbole, intent or reasonableness from a normal conversation, and should refrain from interacting with the general public. > [@](#): > > Oh you can be sure that if the dog jumped on a child or someone frail I would absolutely kill it with my bare hands, no qualms there. But if someone’s going to tell me it’s my job to train their dog, that person is the one who will be receiving some “training”. I mean, just a little instructive contact. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/35 "2012-02-08T18:50:25Z")
> [@brainstall](#): > > I have big dogs and I train them, but if you come to my house, they will be happy to see you and want to check you out. Then they will go lie down somewhere. Seems most of my friends are dog people and are fine with that. If you don’t like dogs, we probably don’t have much in common and it’s unlikely that I would invite you over anyway. And knowing that I have dogs, you are free to decline any invitation that I extend. I will never understand dog owners that do not send the dogs out of the room when a guest is at the door or coming in. Not everyone that comes to my door is a dog lover or even dog tolerant. When my door bell rings, my dogs bark and immediately run into my bedroom where I close the door on the way to answer my guest. Why subject every person to my animals? As much as I love them expecting everyone I know to love them as well seems unreasonable. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/36 "2012-02-08T19:27:08Z")
> [@Foxy40](#): > > I will never understand dog owners that do not send the dogs out of the room when a guest is at the door or coming in. Not everyone that comes to my door is a dog lover or even dog tolerant. When my door bell rings, my dogs bark and immediately run into my bedroom where I close the door on the way to answer my guest. Why subject every person to my animals? As much as I love them expecting everyone I know to love them as well seems unreasonable. I don’t send my dog out of the room just because other people come over. My dog is trained to sit quietly and wait for the visitor to invite interaction. I don’t think I am “subjecting” anyone to my dog just by having him in the room with us. ---
**Author:** ![OtisCampbellWasRight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@OtisCampbellWasRight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtisCampbellWasRight)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/37 "2012-02-08T20:01:38Z")
A couple years ago, myself, and two other guys had to go to this persons house to interview him. It was a nice smaller house, but he had two HUGE Great Danes allowing him and his wife to live there. As we sat at their dining room table, the dogs were at eye-to-eye level with us. Our host offered us coffee and some cookies. Big mistake. these two behemoths spotted the cookies and started salivating…A LOT. Big slimy globs of goo hanging from their huge mouths and flying everywhere as they went around the table. The guy sitting across the table from me is a dog lover, and he encouraged the dogs to “say hello.” By the time we left, he was completely slimed; his shirt was totally wet. Just about the grossest thing I ever saw first hand. And the fellow we came to interview was completely oblivious about it! This guy (the follow interviewer, not the homeowner) is kind of a nebbish, and I couldn’t stop laughing at him. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/38 "2012-02-08T20:50:20Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > They have been trained since birth to require permission to do _anything_; it’s kind of like adopting a four-legged Marine. Ha! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/39 "2012-02-08T20:58:10Z")
Re: sending the dog to another room when the bell rings. Anyone who comes to my front door is a stranger. (Friends and family come in through the kitchen or den.) That stranger will be given a welcome by my dogs. (I’m nice, and hold the big dog’s collar. The shepherd is less frisky.) It’s usually pretty easy to convince strangers to go away. I don’t want to buy shit, I don’t want to be witnessed to, I don’t want to hear your political spiel, and if you’re running some other scam or setup, it’s healthier if you understand that Mo and Sebastian live here -they get upset tummies from strange foods, and they would try to eat you if they thought Mama didn’t want you here.😛 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075/40 "2012-02-08T21:33:31Z")
I have a big dog and she’s good at the door. She brings a shoe or a toy to the new person then runs away waiting for them to chase her. My best friend, tho…he has always been weird about not wanting the dog to be near his crotch. Other dudes have come over and no one ever mentions anything about their crotch. The dog doesn’t go near anyone’s crotch. But what happens with my best friend? The dog always sniffs and then runs into his crotch. I think he either puts his hands down there and the dog is interested in his hands (she’s very alert to hands), or he moves in such a way that makes her think he’s hiding something and she’s gotta try to find it. Anyway my point is sometimes it’s not the dog sometimes it’s your reaction to the dog. And yes sometimes it’s poor training. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-train-their-big-dogs/612075.md?page=3)